A wood library is called a xylarium. The official term xylarium comes from xylem which stems from
classical Greek for wood xylon. It is a curated collection of wood samples from around the world. BRE has a xylarium of some 30,000 samples from what would have been former colonies in the 1920s onwards. The facility is used as an educational resource, a reminder of the switch to sustainable plantation grown timber in the 20th Century and also to identify wood species as required by the EU Timber Regulations.

HARDWOODS Oak VS. Maple !

OAK:
Properties: Oak is a heavy, strong, light coloured hardwood. It is ring porous, due to the fact that more and larger conductive vessels are laid down early in the summer, rather than later. Prominent rings and large pores give oak a course texture and prominent grain. Oak also has conspicuous medullary rays which can be seen as "flakes" in quarter sawed oak lumber.
Uses: Oak is the most popular wood used to craft American and English country designs. It is also used for Gothic and William & Mary reproductions, as well as many transitional and contemporary pieces.


MAPLE:
Properties: Maple is so hard and resistant to shocks that it is often used for bowling alley floors. Its diffuse evenly sized pores give the wood a fine texture and even grain. Maple that has a curly grain is often used for violin backs (the pattern formed is known as fiddle back figure). Burls, leaf figure, and birds-eye figures found in maple are used extensively for veneers. The Birds eye figure in maple is said to be the result of stunted growth and is quite rare.
Uses: Maple is used extensively for American colonial furniture, especially in medium and lower priced categories.It can also be stained to simulate cherry wood, which it resembles.

Forests and woodland in Britain contribute to our health and well-being. Construction materials that contribute to health and well-being when they are forming are rare. Through access to forests by dog walkers, horse riders, runners, cyclists and more forests and woodlands in Britain are the green gyms of our country as well as contributing a wider 500 m. to the local rural economy every year.

The Top 5 of Sanding Benefits !

1.light reflecting improvement
2.less dust collecting
3.better foot traffic handling
4.better aqustic 
5.protection from future harm

CEDAR WOOD

CEDAR: Several species of cedar grow in the southern United States, Central and South America.
Properties & Uses: Cedar is a knotty softwood which has a red-brown color with light streaks. Its aromatic and moth repellent qualities have made it a popular wood for lining drawers, chests and boxes. Simple cases and storage closets are also constructed from this light, brittle wood.

TOP 7 OF THE HARDEST WOODS:
1. Quebracho - From the Spanish “quebrar hacha,” which literally means
“axe breaker.” Aptly named, wood in the Schinopsis genus is among the
heaviest and hardest in the world.
2. Lignum Vitae -Widely accepted as the hardest wood in the world–this
wood has been listed as an endangered species and is listed in CITES.
 Consider Verawood as a very close substitute.
3. Gidgee - This Australian endemic is both very heavy and very strong.
 Some pieces are dark enough to be used as an ebony substitute: one that’s
even harder than the original article.
4. Snakewood - It’s easy to see what makes Snakewood so unique–its patterns
and markings resemble the skin of a snake. Limited supply and high demand
make this one of the most expensive woods on eart.
5. Verawood - Sometimes called Argentine Lignum Vitae, this wood is a gem:
inexpensive, great olive-green color, beautiful feathery grain pattern, and
it takes a great natural polish on the lathe.
6. Camelthorn - Formerly classified as a member of the Acacia genus, this
south African hardwood is a tough customer. The wood is stubbornly hard,
and the tree is protected by giant sharp thorns.
7. African Blackwood - In some parts of the world, this wood has achieved
an almost legendary status. Historical evidence points to this wood
(rather than Diospyros spp.) being the original “ebony.”

Woodworking is a most satisfying pastime, so varied and multifaceted you will never complete the twin processes you have undertaken: acquiring tools and learning how to use them. You have begun a lifetime pursuit. ~Michael Dunbar, "Essential Tools"
The feel and beauty of finely crafted wood…the refreshing smell of your workshop…the absorbing joy of cutting and joining that makes the hours race by… These are the reasons you love woodworking.

~Jack Neff